When Darkness has fallen. 103 



in the darkness. These are quietly chewing the 

 cud, and turn upon us their great soft eyes ; 

 some even press their dewy noses against us. 

 The sweet breath of kine is wafted on the night, 

 and the drone of many insects. 



It is wonderful how lightly the creatures of 

 the fields and woods sleep. The faintest rustle 

 brings chirping from the bushes, and in the 

 densest darkness the wood pigeons coo. Jays 

 screech in the glade, and the wood-owls hoot. 

 One of the essentially night-singers is the grass- 

 hopper warbler. Shy and retiring in its habits, 

 it is rarely found far distant from aquatic vege- 

 tation. Moist situations are most congenial, as 

 among the plants that effect them it finds its 

 winged food. Although generally effecting such 

 spots as indicated, it sometimes seeks out con- 

 siderable elevations. These are covered with 

 coarse grass, bent, furze, and heather ; and here, 

 far into the night, it reels out its continuous 

 cricket-like song. It returns to the same spot 

 year after year, and although from these the 

 particular notes may be often heard, the singer 

 itself is nowhere to be seen. At the least noise 

 it drops from the support on which it may be 

 depending into the grass beneath, then is silent. 

 The song is long continued, but the sounds are 

 constantly shifting, marking the restless track of 

 the singer on the night. It needs no stretch of 



